Creating A Calla Lily Cake Topper For Your Wedding

The calla lily is a popular choice for weddings, symbolising marriage and purity due to its white colour and trumpet shape. If you want to make a calla lily wedding cake topper, you can purchase one from Etsy or Amazon, or make one yourself using gum paste, a pasta machine, and a ball tool.

Using gum paste

To make the centre of the calla lily, or spandix, roll some yellow gum paste into a thin sausage shape. The length of the centre should be about 2/3 of the length of your lily cutter. Moisten some florist wire with water and insert it into the flower centre. Brush the centre with water and roll it in yellow semolina, then leave it to dry overnight.

To make the petal, roll out some white gum paste very thinly. Cut out a petal using a life-size calla lily cutter. Place the petal on a foam pad and thin the edges by drilling with a ball tool.

To assemble the lily, wrap the petal around the wired centre, with the base tightly wrapped and the top loose and open. Leave the lily to dry overnight, hanging upside down.

For a finishing touch, dust the petal and wire edges with green petal dust, and wrap the wire with green florist tape to make it look more realistic.

Using sugar paste

To make a calla lily wedding cake topper using sugar paste, you can follow these steps:

Firstly, you will need to prepare your sugar paste and roll it out. Use a pasta machine or a rolling pin to get the paste as thin as possible, especially at the edges. You can also use a ball tool to thin the edges without ruffling them.

Next, cut out the heart shapes for the calla lily petals. Remember to make them in different sizes to create a more realistic and varied look. Vein the petals using a veiner or a fresh celery rib to create a natural texture.

Then, elongate the point of the heart shapes with a ball tool to give them a more defined spathe (the trumpet-like shape of the calla lily). You can also use a hooked wire for this step, inserting it about 3/4 of the way through the spadix (the yellow tubular centre).

Let the petals dry for a while, and then brush them with egg white and roll them in granulated sugar. This will give the petals a shiny, textured look. Dust the centres with yellow petal dust and the bases with green dust for added colour and realism.

Finally, assemble your calla lilies by attaching the petals to the spadix using gumpaste glue or egg white. You can hang the small and medium-sized flowers upside down to dry. For larger flowers, you can use three 18-gauge wires bound together with green floral tape to create sturdy stems.

By following these steps and allowing your sugar paste calla lilies to dry thoroughly, you will create a beautiful and elegant wedding cake topper.

Using paper

To make a calla lily wedding cake topper out of paper, you can use a few different techniques. Here are some step-by-step instructions:

Method 1:

• Start by cutting a heart shape out of paper, with the heart upside down, to form the basic shape of the calla lily.
• Thin the edges of the paper heart with a ball tool, being careful not to ruffle the edges.
• Use a ball tool to elongate the point of the heart, creating a more natural calla lily shape.
• Insert a hooked wire about 3/4 of the way through the centre of the flower.
• Let the flower dry and then brush it with egg white, or glue, and roll it in granulated sugar.
• Dust the base and the centre of the flower with yellow petal dust.
• Hang the flower upside down to dry completely.
• Once dry, dust the outside of the base and a fine line up the spine with an apple green-coloured powder.
• Create a stem using a hooked 22-gauge wire and cover it with green florist tape or green aquarium tubing.
• Make multiple calla lilies in different sizes to create a more natural-looking arrangement.

Method 2:

• Cut out a paper heart for the calla lily shape.
• Use a fresh celery rib to vein the paper heart and give it a more realistic texture.
• Coat the paper heart with egg white and then roll it in semolina.
• Dust the flower with yellow petal dust and green powder at the base.
• Finish with a dusting of super pearl to give it a shine.
• Bind three 18-gauge wires together with green floral tape to create a sturdy stem.
• Create multiple flowers and arrange them in a bouquet for your cake topper.

Method 3:

• Cut out a paper heart for the calla lily shape.
• Roll out some paper very thinly and cut out a thin strip to create the stamen of the flower.
• Wrap the paper stamen around a thin wire and glue it in place.
• Attach the paper heart to the stamen with glue.
• Dust the flower with petal dust in yellow and green shades to give it a realistic colour.
• Create multiple flowers and arrange them on your cake, securing them with gumpaste glue.

Remember to be creative and adapt these methods to fit your specific needs and style. Enjoy crafting your paper calla lily wedding cake topper!

Using flexible paste

Preparing the Flexible Paste:

• Start by rolling out the flexible paste, also known as gum paste, as thinly as possible. You can use a pasta machine to get an even and super-thin sheet of paste.
• Use a ball tool to thin the edges of the paste even further without ruffling them.

Shaping the Flower:

• Use a calla lily-shaped cutter to cut out the flower shape from the thin paste.
• To create the characteristic heart shape of the calla lily, use your ball tool to press and elongate the point of the heart.
• Insert a hooked wire about three-quarters of the way through the yellow tubular part, known as the spadix. Let the spadix dry for a while.
• Dust the spadix with yellow petal dust before attaching it to the spathe (heart-shaped part). This will give it a more realistic colour.
• Attach the spadix to the spathe using a food-safe adhesive, such as gumpaste glue or egg white.

Adding Details and Colour:

• Dust the base of the flower and the outside with apple green dust. You can also use a thin paintbrush to apply green food colouring.
• For a shiny finish, dust the flower with super pearl dust or another edible glitter.

Creating the Stem:

• For the stem, use a thick application of green florist tape on a wire. You can also use green aquarium tubing over the wire.
• Bind two or three 18-gauge wires together for a stronger stem, especially if you plan to make larger calla lilies.

Drying and Arranging:

• Hang the small and medium-sized calla lilies upside down to dry.
• Once dry, arrange the flowers in a spray on top of the cake, with smaller groupings on different tiers.

By following these steps and allowing enough time for the flexible paste to dry, you can create a beautiful and realistic calla lily wedding cake topper that is sure to impress!

Using real calla lilies

Prepare the Calla Lilies:

Start by selecting fresh, high-quality calla lilies with blooms that are fully open. Gently remove any leaves from the stems that will be submerged in water. Cut the stems to the desired length, ensuring they are proportional to your cake's size. You can also reinforce the stems with floral wire for added support.

Create the Arrangement:

Decide on the arrangement of the calla lilies on your cake topper. You can opt for a simple, single stem or create a more elaborate spray or grouping. If you're using multiple flowers, arrange them at different heights to add visual interest. Secure the stems together using floral tape or ribbon, wrapping it tightly around the stems to hold them in place.

Finishing Touches:

To enhance the beauty of your calla lilies, you can dust the petals with a light coating of edible glitter or pearl dust. This will give them a subtle shimmer and make them look even more elegant. You can also add small accents, such as baby's breath or other small flowers, to fill out the arrangement and create a fuller look.

Placement on the Cake:

When placing the calla lily topper on your wedding cake, ensure the stems are securely anchored in the cake. You can use a small amount of floral foam or a water-soaked sponge wrapped in plastic wrap to keep the flowers hydrated and in place. Position the topper at the desired angle, taking care not to damage the cake's surface.

Care and Maintenance:

To ensure your calla lily wedding cake topper stays fresh and vibrant, keep the flowers in water until you are ready to place them on the cake. If possible, store them in a cool, shaded area to prolong their lifespan. After the wedding, you can carefully remove the flowers and enjoy them as a beautiful reminder of your special day.

Frequently asked questions